- In the 18th century, France produced some of the finest handmade paper in the world, much of it for export. In the finishing room of this mill, the women are smoothing, cleaning, counting, inspecting, and bundling the paper. The mills were largely in rural areas and often were cottage industries employing whole families. Women and children were paid much less than men, but the combined income gave additional home comforts. Although the work was monotonous, it was cleaner and better liked than the rag rooms, the other work open to women in the paper mills.
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